Over the last few years, I have been a member of many different music programs and ensembles that required different uniform styles for musicians. Even though the uniform requirements can be very strict, I’ve been able to adapt my band uniform by adding or modifying…

Welcome to my Navigating College Campuses series, where I talk about all of the different ways I use Orientation and Mobility (O&M) techniques and my blindness cane as a student with low vision at my large public university. After spending four years living on my…

When I was in middle school, I had trouble seeing the instrument fingering chart for clarinet due to all of the small symbols. Since I had no idea that I could modify an instrument fingering chart for low vision, I just tried to guess what…

Recently, I received a question on Twitter from the parent of a middle school-aged musician with low vision asking about options for watching the conductor with low vision. The student said that they have trouble seeing the conductor from where their section is located, and…

I’ve been playing clarinet for over ten years now, and I often receive questions from people wanting to learn a new instrument as to why I chose the clarinet as a musician with low vision. While my low vision wasn’t a defining factor in why…

A high school-aged clarinet player reached out to me on Pinterest a few days ago asking me if I had any tips for how to read marching band drill sheets and talking to their director about marching with low vision. The conversation made me think…

One of the fun facts I like to share about myself is that I play bass clarinet for my school pep band, the GMU Green Machine. Anyone who is from the area is frequently surprised that I am able to play in the pep band…

After three semesters of continuous use at performances and rehearsals, the large print music binder that I used for college pep band started to fall apart. This binder had previously been provided to me by the pep band staff and while I definitely appreciate their…

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to play several different types of clarinets in the concert band programs at my various schools. Besides learning more about playing clarinet, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of classical and instrumental music, as well…

It’s hard to believe that it’s been ten years since I first started playing clarinet.  Almost every aspect of my life connects back to the fact I play clarinet- the friends I have made, the people I have met, the places I have travelled to,…

How I participated in high school marching band with a vision impairment, thanks to an optimistic band director

When my first high school told me to get a GED and get out, I decided I wasn’t graduating early